Spreading-rail indicator.



E. 11111D1112. SPREADING RAIL INDICATOR.

APPLICATION FILED 00T. 18, 1913.

'Patented Aug. 11,` 1911.

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E. KADDATZ.

SPREADING RAIL INDICATOR.

APPLIUATION FILED 0011s, 1913.

1 ,106,876, Patented Aug. 11, 191% 23 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2. Z .E.Q I

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I 5 6 Kofi I/l` l 12 l Il EMIL KADDA'IZ, OF OB'IONVILLE, MINNESOTA.

SPREADING-RAIL INDICATOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 11, 1914..

Application filed October 18, 1913. Serial No. 798,039.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, EMIL KADDATZ, a citizenof the United States, residing at Ortonville, in the county of Bigstoneand State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Spreading-Rail Indicators, of which the following is aspecification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

rlfhis invention relates to certain improvements in indicators and hasrelation more particularly to a device of this general characterespecially designed and adapted for use in connection with railways andthe object of the invention is to provide a device of this type of asimple and comparatively inexpensive nature having means of a novel andimproved character whereby an indication is automatically given from atrain passing over a track way `at any point or points on such track waywhereby the rails included therein have spread.

The invention consists in the details of construction and in thecombination and arrangement of the several parts whereby certainimportant advantages are attained and the device is rendered simpler,less expensive and otherwise more convenient and advantageous for use,all as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

The novel features of the invention will be carefully defined in theappended claims.

In order that my invention may be the better understood, I will nowproceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanyingdrawings, wherein- Figure 1 is a somewhat diagraphic view of anindicator constructed in accordance with an embodiment of my invention;Fig. 2 is a view in top plan of my improved device as herein embodied;Fig. 3 is a view in end elevation of the device as shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional`l locomotive or below thetender thereof. The manner in which this is accomplished forms noparticular part of my invention and a detail thereof is thereforebelieved to be unnecessary. The hopper 1 is provided with a dif*- chargenozzle 2 adapted to be positioned in close proximity to the roadway overwhich the engine may travel and the discharge therethrough beingcontrolled by the sliding valves 3 and 4 disposed with their extremitiesoverlapping and being provided with suitable apertures 5 adapted toregister when the valves are adjusted to bring such openings 5 below thedischarge opening of the hopper. As herein disclosed, the valves 3 and 4comprise inwardly directing arms formed on the forward extremities ofthe downwardly inclined portions 6 of the elongated members 7, suchmembers being disposed in intersecting relation somewhat after thefashion of an X with their adjacent or overlapping portions pivotallyunited by a member 8 which is also adapted to engage a suitablesupporting means, as indicated at 9 in Fig. 8, suitably carried belowthe engine or its tender. I also wish to state in this respect that thesupport 9 may be as desired and that its particular construction has nobearing whatever to my present invention, and for this reason it isthought that a further disclosure relative thereto is unnecessary. Theopposite or rear end portions of the arms 7 are provided with thebearings 10 from each of which projects a stub shaft 11 adapted to havemounted thereon a flanged wheel 12 adapted to tra-vel in theconventional manner over the rails 14 of the track way. In order tomaintain such tension upon the arms 7 as to create a separation of therear end portions of the arms 7 l employ in connection with each of sucharms a retractile spring 15, one end portion of such spring beingsuitably anchored to the coacting arm 7 preferably at the junction ofthe portion 6 therewith, while the opposite end portion of such springis suitably secured to any convenient element 16 carried by the engine.It might be well to state at this time that in referring to the engine Imean to include the conventional tender generally employed in connectiontherewith.

It is thought to be obvious that the tension of the springs 15 willautomatically serve to maintain the flanges 17 of the wheels 12 inconstant Contact with the inner surfaces of the heads of the rails 14irrespective of the relative positions 0f such rails. The loca--` tionof the openings 5, hereinbefore referred to, is such that when the railsof a track way are in proper gage the discharge 2 of the hopper 1 willbe closed but should a spreading of the rails occur at any point alongthe track way, the resultant relative outward movement of the wheels 12will cause such adjustment of the valves 3 and 4C as to cause1 theopenings thereof to register beneath the discharge of the hopper 1,whereupon the material within such hopper, preferably of acolored sandor other free iiowing material, will be deposited along the track wayuntil the resultant relative inward movement of the wheels 12 causes thevalves 3 and 4c to be adjusted to close such discharge 2 when the4 railsare at their proper gage. The depositof the colored material which maybe employed gives indication to the proper persons as to just what pointthere may be a spreading of the rails so that the same mayl be correctedwithout undue delay and there-v by serve to reduce to a minimum thepossibility of accidents which so often occur through an unknownspreading of the rails of the track way.

As herein set forth, I also disclose a means whereby a signal may begiven to the engineer at the time the arms 7 are adjusted to indicate aspreading of the rails and, as

herein embodied,I accomplish this result through the medium of thecontacts 18 suit-g ably secured to the outer or forward. ex-` tremitiesof the portions 6 and in suitable connection with a source of electricalenergy,`

as indicated by 19, through the medium of the conductors 20, whichcontacts are adapted to engage, upon the separation of theI wheels 12,suitable terminals 21 also in communication with the electrical source19` Copies of this patent may be obtained for of an extremely simpleand' comparatively inexpensive nature and is particularly well adaptedfor use by reason of the facility with which it is caused to giveindication of the spreading of the rails of a track way at the time atrain is passing thereover and it will also be obvious that my inventionis susceptible of some change and modification Without materialdeparture from the principles and spirit thereof and for this reason Ido not wish to be understood as limitingv myself to the precisearrangement and vformation of the several parts herein shown in carryingout my invention in practice.

1. An indicator fortrack ways including a hopper having adischarge,relatively movable arms, means for maintaining one end of each of sucharms in constant engagement with the rails of the. track way, andauxiliary arms carried by the other ends of the first mentioned arms andhaving ltheir extremities in overlapping relation and serving to closethe discharge from the hopper, such auxiliary arms being provided intheir extremities with openings adapted to be brought into register withthe discharge of the hopper upon movement of the first mentioned arms inone direction. v

2. An indicator for track ways including a hopper having a discharge,relatively movable arms, means for maintaining one end of each of sucharms in constant `engagement with the rails of the track way, auxiliaryarms carried by the other ends ofthe first mentioned arms and havingtheir extremities in overlapping relation and serving to close thedischarge from thefhopper, such auxiliary members being provided withopenings adapted to be brought into register with the discharge of thehopper upon movement of the first mentioned arms in one direction,

electric signaling means, and means under control of the firstmentionedarms for operating such signaling means.

e In testimony whereof I hereunto aiiix my signature in the presence oftwo witnesses. VEMIL KADDATZ.

Vitnesses:

v FRED M. Gnmn,

LUNA WoLrn.

ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, l Washington,D. G. l,

